As long as the bullet bees could survive and reproduce inside the tower space, consuming spirit honey in the future would no longer be a problem.Given the sheer number of these bullet bees, the amount of Spirit Honey they could produce would also be astonishing. Not only could it be consumed directly, it could also be used for alchemy, brewing, and countless other applications—truly a resource of great versatility.
Upon entering the tower's internal space, the bees immediately landed amidst large flowerbeds.Many bullet bees pounced excitedly onto the blossoms, clearly feeling as though they had come home.These bees weren't truly vicious creatures—unless provoked, they rarely attacked others in the wild. Now, seeing such a profusion of exotic flora, they quickly accepted this space as home—a perfect habitat for reproduction.Even if one wanted to drive them away now, they probably wouldn't leave.
The number of surviving bullet bees exceeded several hundred thousand.They gathered, communicating with one another, visibly thrilled. It was evident—they had no intention of leaving. With the absence of the queen's aura, they had acknowledged this as their new home.A myriad of watchful eyes scanned the surroundings, alert and vigilant. Clearly, they already regarded this place as their new territory.
Seeing nothing abnormal in their behavior, Yi Tianxing nodded to himself and stowed the pagoda away.The entire battlefield was now swept clean—nothing remained, as though the earlier intense clash had never happened.Future travelers would never guess that a ferocious battle had taken place here.
Whoosh!!
At that moment, Yi Tianxing instinctively looked toward the wilderness. His expression subtly shifted.Looking carefully, it seemed a rainbow was streaking across the sky from a distance—brilliant and dreamlike, as though one had stepped into a fairytale.This rainbow had appeared from the wilderness, at the far end of his vision. Not only had Yi Tianxing noticed it, but so too had the people within Goldsilver City. In fact, this rainbow was moving directly along the city's forward path—as though driven out by the pulsing force of the earth's ley lines. Along its path, trees and flowers were shattered by the vibration.
Yi Tianxing moved into the space gate, and in the next moment appeared silently atop Goldsilver City's walls, gazing ahead.
"A rainbow? It's beautiful!"
"Wait—it's not a rainbow! Look closely—butterflies! Massive butterflies! I've never seen any this large before. It's unbelievable!"
"They're gorgeous! They shimmer in seven colors, surrounded by radiant mist—it's like a mythical realm. But my communication wristband didn't recognize them."
"So pretty… If only I could tame one as a pet—it might even let me fly."
The citizens looked on in awe, enchanted by the sight.
"All forces, prepare for battle! Activate Divine Crossbows!!"– Yang Ye frowned slightly and issued a swift command.
After the earlier Honey Rain, it was clear that the alien races had begun responding. These butterflies appeared suspicious. His instincts urged caution.
"So beautiful… Rainbow-colored butterflies… I've never seen anything like them,"Yi Tianxing murmured.
Hovering amid a swirl of seven-colored mist, the creatures coalesced into something like a rainbow bridge. But this wasn't mere mist or light—it was a massive swarm of brilliantly colored butterflies, each shimmering with radiant hues.
These butterflies varied in size—from as small as a basin lid to massive creatures with wingspans of three to five meters. Fluttering and dancing in the sky, they wove flowing streams of light, forming a stunning scene beneath the sun.
"These are Rainbow Illusion Butterflies, also called Seven-Colored Mirage Butterflies—the most beautiful and radiant beings in existence. Truly the monarchs among butterflies."– Yi Tianxing had already learned of them through the Wordless Heavenly Tome.
These butterflies radiated natural seven-colored brilliance, enshrouded in a hazy multicolored aura that resembled drifting mist. From a distance, they looked exactly like rainbows.But beneath their beauty lay hidden peril.
Rainbow Illusion Butterflies possess a potent defense mechanism: they release a unique hallucinogenic powder, dispersed silently on the wind.Inhaling it causes living beings to fall into powerful illusions without even realizing it.Only those with unbreakable willpower can resist. Otherwise, one may succumb completely—possibly even turning on allies.
Fortunately, the butterflies didn't approach the celestial city but instead passed it by, heading off into the distance—like a living rainbow suspended in the air, breathtakingly beautiful.
"Thank goodness. If they had entered the city, even the Vermilion Bird Legion might barely resist—but the common folk? Ninety percent would've fallen into illusions, possibly even turning on each other."– Yi Tianxing breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
It was best not to interact with such dangerous beauty unless absolutely necessary.
What puzzled him was that these butterflies clearly weren't reacting to the city's approach. They were already migrating before contact.Yi Tianxing frowned.
"Odd… Rainbow Illusion Butterflies prefer warm climates and can survive in almost any place except arctic tundra. So why migrate now, when it's not even winter?"
It was clear this was no coincidence. The butterflies were fleeing, heading south—seeking a new habitat.
"Resume advance!!"– Yang Ye, seeing the butterflies drift away, also relaxed.
Given their unknown traits, he had no wish to engage them if he could help it. Avoiding conflict was always preferable.
A Doomed Landscape
The celestial city continued to move forward—but no one relaxed.They all knew the alien races would not give up so easily. More schemes were likely to follow—but what kind, no one could say.
After advancing several hundred li, a strange multicolored fog suddenly appeared ahead.It was immense, eerily vivid under the sun. Even the civilians could see it from the city—it was that massive.
No one knew where the fog had come from.But a strange wind carried it slowly forward.
The most terrifying part? Wherever the fog touched, plants withered instantly. Grasses turned yellow and shriveled in moments. The land was stained pitch black, as if all life had been drained.Not even a single sound came from within—dead silence.
It sent chills down everyone's spines.
"It's poison. That's toxic fog."– Yang Ye's expression changed drastically.
From the sheer devastation it caused, it was clear: this fog was lethally poisonous.
Screech!
A vicious bird flew overhead but, upon brushing the fog, let out a shriek and dropped like a rock—dead before hitting the ground.For a poison to kill a ferocious beast midair—its potency was terrifying.
"Looks like this is the aliens' third barrier.The earth fissure failed to stop us, the bee swarm did no harm—so now they've turned to poison.Ruthless indeed. This poison will render the land lifeless for a hundred years."– Wu Yong took a deep breath, face grave.
"What do we do now? Even if we stop, the fog's drifting toward us. It'll be here soon."– asked Yang Yanping.
Poison—no one wanted to be anywhere near it.
"It's not poison rain, only toxic mist. Fog can be blown away. Use Gale Talismans to disperse it."– Wu Yong suggested after a moment of thought.
Though the fog was vast, a single gust wouldn't be enough. But if thousands of talismans were activated simultaneously—that wouldn't be mere wind. That would be a hurricane.
"All forces, prepare Gale Talismans! Target: the poison fog! Launch!!"– Yang Ye approved the plan.
Swish swish swish!
Thousands of soldiers threw their talismans into the air.In an instant, fierce winds howled up from the ground, merging into one massive storm. Trees were uprooted, grasses torn from the earth—the resulting hurricane could easily sweep a person away.Even cultivators weren't immune to its force.
The storm surged into the toxic fog.
In theory, no matter how dense the fog, it should be torn apart and scattered.
But…
The hurricane passed through the fog—as though it weren't there.The fog wasn't dispersed at all. It remained intact, continuing its slow march toward the celestial city.
That sight was deeply unsettling.
"Even a hurricane can't blow it away? Just what kind of poison fog is this…?"– Wu Yong stared in shock.
He hadn't expected such a thing could exist—a fog untouched by the wind.A sense of dread filled his heart.
This time, things were about to get very… troublesome.